Musings: Tiger, Rocco settle U.S. Open in playoff

There may be some lingering debate over whether or not golf is a sport, but can anyone deny that the game can deliver incredible theater? Exhibit A: the 2008 U.S. Open, which will go down as one of the most memorable and dramatic tournaments in the game’s grand history, courtesy of one hobbled superstar and one unassuming journeyman.

Tiger Woods was clearly in pain throughout much of the weekend, and his game suffered right along with him at times, but he provided moments of transcendent brilliance that would be the envy of Michael Jordan and Joe Montana in their primes. Throw in a jovial 45-year-old with a decade of back pain and a record of modest achievement behind him, and you have the game in its egalitarian essence. What other sport could produce such a contrast in determining its national champion?

Rocco Mediate’s just-happy-to-be-here demeanor and everyman game — fairways, greens and pars — stood in stark contrast to Woods’ steely-eyed determination and provided some refreshing relief from Tiger’s alternating agony and ecstasy. When the four rounds had ended, punctuated by a birdie that only Woods could produce, it still wasn’t over, setting up the ultimate David-vs.-Goliath matchup, an 18-hole playoff featuring a player grinding relentlessly in inexorable pursuit of a 14th major championship and another with only five PGA Tour wins — none since 2002 — and all of four top-10s in majors.

Two singular personalities, two unique men, both great in his own way. May the best man win. And the beauty of golf is that, on a single given day, that man may not be Tiger Woods. (Although, I must admit, it probably will be.)

Tiger’s Wild Ride

Woods produced alternating moments of soaring brilliance and pain-induced ineptitude. Tiger butchered the par-4 No. 1 hole with three double-bogeys. On Sunday, he bogeyed the par-5 13th hole for the first time in 36 competitive rounds at Torrey Pines South. Fighting through the pain of his surgically repaired knee, a knee that is a key element of Tiger’s torqued-up power game, he grimaced and winced and scolded himself and tossed clubs and even kicked his bag. But he continued to grind.

And it was that grinding, that refusal to give in to the pain, that gave us these historic moments:

• A second-nine 30 on Friday that included six birdies and stunned the Phil-friendly gallery.

• Saturday’s epic eagle putts on 13 and 18 that amazed Woods himself, plus a chip-in at 17 that hit the pin at warp speed and promptly disappeared into the cup, to Tiger’s seeming embarrassment.

• Best of all, Woods’ birdie on the 72nd hole when he absolutely had to have it, and when it looked as if he had made an utter mess of the par-5 closing hole. He left his drive in the bunker and sent his second shot into the gnarly kikuya rough. But he mustered one final burst of power to hack his way through the rough with a wedge and put his third shot to 12 feet, pin high. Did anyone doubt that he would make that putt?

As a footnote to the weekend, kudos to the USGA for ending with a birdie hole. The possibilities for drama are too delicious to do it any other way.

Missed Opportunities

Phil Mickelson came into this U.S. Open poised to erase the demons of the 2006 Open at Winged Foot, where he fumbled away his best chance at an Open win. Torrey Pines presented Lefty with a virtual home-course advantage; he honed his game as a youngster on the beautiful track carved out of the La Jolla cliffs. His superstar pairing with Tiger Woods and Adam Scott presented him a prime-time opportunity to chip away at Woods’ dominance of the sport.

The planets were aligned. But Mickelson didn’t cooperate.

He made a strategic blunder right out of the gate with his decision not to carry a driver during the first two rounds. His 3-wood left him 20 yards behind Tiger on most tee shots, which would have been acceptable had Mickelson been able to find a fairway.

Granted, he provided a few moments of brilliance, moments that thrilled a gallery that was agonizing with its hometown hero over every bad shot and exulting over every holed putt. He was in decent position after two scrambling rounds left him at 2-over par. But an unconscionable 9 at the par-5 13th on Saturday effectively ended his chances.

Mickelson was a gracious loser and was effusive in his praise for the setup at Torrey Pines. “This has been the best U.S. Open setup I've ever seen,” he said.

“I felt great when the tournament started,'' said Mickelson. "[On] Tuesday, on my energy level was up, I felt like my game was there, I was able to practice and work on it. And I felt like I was ready. I just didn't score, I just didn't perform.”

And the tournament he called a “once in a lifetime chance” will go down as possibly the most bitter disappointment in a career that has had its share of them. 

Continental Divide

Europe may dominate the Ryder Cup, but the U.S. national championship remains elusive. Tiger’s Sunday playing partner, Lee Westwood, had to feel like he missed a golden opportunity to end a drought that now extends to 38 years. An even-par round would have won him the tournament, but it wasn’t to be. Westwood played the two back-nine par-5s in 1-over, sealing his fate. Westwood finished solo third, one shot out of today’s playoff.

Overall, the European contingent played beautifully. Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel-Jimenez and Carl Pettersson joined Westwood in the top six.

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